When we take out health insurance, we all hope that it won't come in handy. But sometimes it comes in handy. When an insured event occurs, it is important to act quickly and know what to do. Therefore, it is better to think over the procedure in advance.
So, if you or someone close to you require medical assistance on a trip, you need to contact the insurance company as soon as possible. It is best to do this by calling the phone number specified in the policy. For some countries there is a toll-free number. If you have a bad connection or have no money on your SIM card, try to find the Internet and write to the mail, as well as contact your relatives in Russia so that they can get through to the insurance company.
The insurance company will ask you to describe what happened. Then they will need to get confirmation that this case is insured. In good company, it doesn't take long. Cases that are usually considered insured: injuries (if they are received as a result of extreme sports, then special insurance is needed), poisoning, insect bites, allergies, acute diseases.
Cases that are usually not considered insured: sunstroke, sunburn, injuries caused by alcohol, exacerbation of chronic diseases, complications associated with pregnancy, many infectious diseases, nervous and mental illnesses, and others.
In a few minutes a representative of the company will contact you for further instructions, namely, informing which hospital to contact. In most cases, you will have to get to the hospital yourself, but just in case, ask the taxi for a receipt for payment.
If a life-threatening situation arises, when every minute counts, and you cannot promptly contact the insurance company, take the victim to the nearest hospital. In this case, you will most likely have to pay the bill yourself, and then the insurance company will reimburse the costs. Save all documents and receipts. If you have problems communicating with the insurance company, ask your relatives or friends in Russia, it will be much easier for them to call and resolve issues.
If everything is not so serious, then you can wait for the company representative to send you the address of the hospital with which they have an agreement. In some cases, a taxi may be sent to pick you up, but as a rule, they will not. The hospital will already be informed of your visit and will refer you to the appropriate doctor. After examination and appointment of treatment, the hospital must receive a letter of guarantee from the insurance company if the case is recognized as insured. If the treatment is started before the letter of guarantee is received, then you may be asked for a passport or a certain amount of money as a deposit.
Some hospitals may ask you to pay a bill; do not do this without consulting your insurance company. If treatment is required in another hospital, then the transportation of the patient and the accompanying person is also ideally carried out at the expense of the insurance company. If serious treatment is required, it is only covered up to the amount covered by the insurance.
Some tips:
1. Always buy insurance! Even if you are only traveling for a couple of days, it is on these days that something can happen.
2. Take seriously your choice of insurance company. Take the time to study reviews. Remember that each insurance company works together with an assistance company abroad.
3. Carefully read the contract: what is included in the concept of an insured event and what is not. Some companies offer extended coverage.
4. If you bought your policy online, you need to print it out. When going on excursions and other trips, be sure to take your policy with you. Immediately find in the policy the telephone and mail for communication, suitable for your country, and highlight it. Since in an extreme situation it can take precious time.
5. Leave your relatives a copy of the policy so that they can promptly contact the insurance company if necessary.
6. Don't think that the main goal of any insurance company is not to pay. There are many known cases when the correctly chosen insurance company fully fulfilled its obligations.
